Comparison 2. ECT plus standard care versus antipsychotics plus standard care.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Response to treatment ‐ clinically important response (BPRS reducing rate ≥ 50%) ‐ medium term	1	162	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.23 [0.95, 1.58]
2 Mental state ‐ total score (BPRS, high = poor) ‐ short term	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐5.20 [‐7.93, ‐2.47]
3 Mental state ‐ total score (BPRS, high = poor) ‐ medium term (skewed data)			Other data	No numeric data
4 Mental state ‐ specific symptom score (BPRS, high = poor) ‐ short term	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 Anxiety and depression	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.60 [‐1.12, ‐0.08]
4.2 Lack of vitality	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.20 [‐2.74, ‐1.66]
4.3 Thought disturbance	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.70 [‐1.32, ‐0.08]
4.4 Agitation	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.70 [‐0.82, ‐0.58]
4.5 Hostile suspiciousness	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.0 [‐1.56, ‐0.44]
5 Mental state ‐ specific symptom score (BPRS, high = poor) ‐ medium term	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
5.1 Anxiety and depression	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.50 [‐1.73, ‐1.27]
5.2 Lack of vitality	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.20 [‐1.47, ‐0.93]
5.3 Thought disturbance	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.70 [‐2.12, ‐1.28]
5.4 Agitation	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.60 [‐1.79, ‐1.41]
5.5 Hostile suspiciousness	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.80 [‐3.14, ‐2.46]
6 Adverse events ‐ total score (TESS, high = poor)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
6.1 Short term	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.40 [‐0.91, 0.11]
6.2 Medium term	1	162	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.1 [‐1.40, ‐0.80]